A society is defined in the Societies Act as a club, company, partnership or association of 10 or more persons, whatever its nature or object, and not already registered under any other law.
Registering a Society
There should be 10 or more persons before you are liable for registration with the ROS.
For the categories of societies listed below, the majority of the Committee Members must be Singapore Citizens. In addition, the President, Secretary, Treasurer and their deputies shall be Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents. Foreign Diplomats shall not serve as Committee Members.
Religious societies.
Societies which identify themselves publicly as or whose membership is confined exclusively to members of a single race.
Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to represent; promote any cause or interest of; or discuss any issue relating to a class of persons defined by reference to their gender or sexual orientation.
Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to promote or discuss the use or status of any language.
Any arts groups except those promoting classical music/works.
For societies categorized as below, the majority of the Committee Members must be Singapore Citizens. In addition, the President, Secretary, Treasurer and their deputies shall be Singapore Citizens. Foreign Diplomats shall not serve as Committee Members.
Any society whose object, purpose or activity, whether primary or otherwise, is to represent persons who advocate; promote; or discuss any issue relating to any civil or political right (including human rights, environmental rights and animal rights).
Information or Documents to Prepare before Applying for Registration
a) Information on the society
Name of the society (and 2 more alternative names for Normal Registration process)
Place of Business (defined as the place where the books and records of the society will be kept)
Constitution of Society in English
Email, telephone and/or Fax Nos
Letters of affiliation, where necessary, in English
Constitution of affiliated body, where necessary, in English
Letters of approval or support from relevant government agencies, schools, organisations, personalities, etc, where necessary, in English
b) Information on the Members
Full Name of Proposed Member, NRIC No. / FIN / Passport No., Date of Birth, Country of Birth
Title of Office-bearer (e.g. President, Secretary, Treasurer, Ordinary Member, etc), Equivalent Post
Residential Address
Nationality, Resident Status in Singapore
Gender, Marital Status, Race, Religion
Contact Information (e.g. email address, residential telephone no., mobile no.)
Highest Educational Level, Present Employment Status, Name of Employer / Company, Position/Job Title, Address of Company, Office No.
Present Membership in Other Registered Societies, if any (Name of Society, Position in Society)
c) Other information
Email addresses of the President, Secretary and Treasurer of the society.
d) Additional Questions if you are applying under normal registrations:
1. What are the other two alternative names - in order of preference - that your society would like to be called? What is the meaning and significance of the alternative names? Where applicable, please also provide the Chinese characters of the alternative names.
2. What are the sources of funds for the society, apart from those mentioned in the constitution?
3. Was the society previously in existence? If so, where was it and why was it not registered then? Was it registered under any written law?
4. What is the expected size of membership?
5. Will any foreigners be employed? If so, who are they (name, date of birth and passport number)? How long will they be working here?
6. Does the proposed society represent the interests of any ethnic group? Is the membership restricted to any particular ethnic community? If so, please state the ethnic group.
e) Additional Questions if your are a religious society
A "religious society" refers to any society conducting worshipping activities or studying any religious text pertaining to any deity or deities.
Catholic or Christian Societies
1. What is the Christian denomination of the proposed society?
2. Will the society publish any literature in Singapore for dissemination outside Singapore and vice-versa? In what languages will the literature be published?
3. Please state the church each protem member is currently attending.
4. Please provide the religious leader's curriculum vitae including his name, NRIC No. / Foreign Identification No. (FIN)/Passport No., nationality and religious background.
5. Is the proposed society under or intending to come under any umbrella Christian organisation, locally or overseas? If so, please state the name of the organisation.
Buddhist or Taoist Societies
1. What are the deities that will be worshipped/revered/paid homage to? What do they symbolise? (Names in Chinese characters must also be provided, where applicable.)
2. What are the religious beliefs of the society (i.e. whether it is Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, a combination of them, etc.)?
3. Will the proposed society be conducting any classes? If yes, please state the texts to be used.
4. Please provide us with the religious leader's curriculum vitae including his name, NRIC No. / Foreign Identification No. (FIN)/Passport No., nationality and religious background.
Hindu Societies
1. What are the deities that will be worshipped/revered/paid homage to? What do they symbolise?
2. What are the religious beliefs of the society?
3. Will the proposed society be conducting any classes? If yes, please state the texts to be used.
4. Please provide us with the religious leader's curriculum vitae including his name, NRIC No./Foreign Identification No. (FIN)/Passport No., nationality and religious background.
Other Religious Societies
1. What are the deities that will be worshipped/revered/paid homage to? What do they symbolise? (Names in Chinese characters must also be provided, where applicable)
2. What are the religious beliefs of the society?
3. Will the proposed society be conducting any classes? If yes, please state the texts to be used.
4. Please provide us with the religious leader's curriculum vitae including his name, NRIC No. / Foreign Identification No. (FIN)/Passport No., nationality and religious background.
The average processing time under the normal registration process for registering a society is about two months.
Fee for Registration of a Society
The registration fees are:
(a) Automatic Registration : $300 (registration of a society other than a specified society)
(b) Normal Registration : $400 (approval of the registration of a specified society)
How Bestar can Help
Bestar can help you register a society in Singapore by providing the following services:
Consultation and advice: Bestar's experienced team can provide you with advice on the registration process, eligibility requirements, and any other aspects of registering a society.
Document preparation: Bestar can help you prepare all of the required documents for registration, including the application form, constitution, and list of members.
Submission and tracking: Bestar can submit your application to the Registry of Societies (ROS) and track its progress on your behalf.
Post-registration assistance: Bestar can provide you with ongoing assistance with your society, such as filing annual returns and updating your records.
In addition to these services, Bestar can also offer you the following benefits:
Experience: Bestar has a proven track record of successfully registering societies in Singapore.
Expertise: Bestar's team is knowledgeable about the Societies Act and its regulations.
Efficiency: Bestar can help you register your society quickly and efficiently.
Convenience: Bestar can handle the entire registration process for you, so you can focus on running your society.
If you are considering registering a society in Singapore, contact Bestar for a consultation. Bestar can help you understand the process and ensure that your registration is successful.
Contact Bestar today!
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